Leader For `Six Pillars'

Lawyer Replaces Anderson As Head Of Development Authority

Even before Gov. John G. Rowland called Tuesday to offer him the job, R. Bartley Halloran had thought it through and made up his mind to accept the position as downtown Hartford's development czar.

``I was prepared for it,'' Halloran, a 49-year-old trial lawyer from West Hartford, said of Rowland's call.

Halloran had the time to serve as chairman of the Capital City Economic Development Authority. As one of the lawyers representing people who lost money in the Colonial Realty swindle, Halloran had recently won a $90 million settlement from a national accounting firm.

With a federal judge agreeing in June to disburse $28.5 million in fees to the Colonial lawyers, Halloran suddenly was financially secure.

And in the year that he had spent on CCEDA, Halloran discovered he relished working on Hartford's revitalization, for an organization with the financial clout to do something about it. He had few doubts about his ability to do the job.

``It just seems that it's here and it's almost providence -- I'm at a time in my life when I can do it, and somebody has asked me to do it,'' Halloran said Tuesday of his appointment.

``I've been in Hartford for my adult life, really, and I believe that it can be a lot better. And I think that this is one of those unique opportunities in time where you have a governor who's actually willing to spend the money on the city. You've got good economic times and you've got a series of plans, all of which can work very well and really transform a city.''

CCEDA is charged with carrying out Rowland's $300 million-plus ``Six Pillars'' revitalization plan in Hartford, a program that includes construction of a convention center, establishment of a downtown college campus and revitalization of the Hartford Civic Center mall.

A West Hartford Democrat, Halloran replaces Arthur T. Anderson, who resigned from CCEDA Monday amid continued financial allegations about his responsibility for loans made to a woman with whom he'd had a long-term affair. The allegations were not connected to CCEDA.

The transition will be about style as well as substance -- the confident, analytical trial attorney replacing the consummate political buddy and real estate insider.

Anderson was a close friend of Mayor Michael P. Peters and former House Speaker Thomas D. Ritter, and was a business partner with two prominent downtown Hartford real estate developers, Phil Schonberger and Marc Levine.

``When he first got appointed, we had lunch, and he spoke very sincerely about the city and doing the right things,'' said council Minority Leader John B. O'Connell. ``He is also not as political as Arthur, which, at this stage of the game, is probably a plus. And he's Mr. Clean from everything I hear.''

Halloran, however, will not be able to draw on the reservoir of relationships and history in Hartford Anderson was able to command.

``I hope he has the same set of skills and knowledge base as Arthur had,'' said Bernadine Silvers, a Hartford community activist. ``I hope Mr. Halloran shows the same willingness to continue working to connect the community to downtown.''

Anderson often operated as much like an executive director as a board chairman, getting directly involved in negotiations on projects such as the Civic Center revitalization.

Halloran, partly because he doesn't have Anderson's experience with real estate development, expects to let Brendan Fox, CCEDA's executive director, and other staff members and CCEDA consultants carry more of the load.

Halloran sat quietly through many CCEDA meetings this year. But at other times, his self-assurance and razor-like analytical skills surfaced, as in one CCEDA meeting where he imposed a withering cross-examination on a high-ranking but unprepared state official appearing before the authority.

That episode caught the attention of CCEDA member Miguel J. Matos.

``I think that he would be the best leader among the group,'' Matos said. ``I think he has the technical expertise and the local knowledge of the city to be able to guide us.''

Halloran's appointment won't disrupt the authority's chemistry. Rowland and legislative leaders must still appoint someone to fill Anderson's place on CCEDA.

``I think [Halloran]'s gained the respect of people,'' said Eileen S. Kraus, vice chairwoman of CCEDA. ``I think he'll make a good leader. I didn't know him at all when we began and he's thoughtful.''

Halloran learned about the dark side of real estate on the Colonial case, experience he says he will use as CCEDA chairman.